Inflatable pessary



Dec. 19, 1944. M. E. SCHIMPFI 2,365,296.

INFLATABLE PESSARY Filed June 15, 1943 I grwwvbom Patented Dec. 19, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICIE INFLATABLE PESSARY Marie Schimpf, St. Louis, Mo.

, Application June 15, 1943, Serial No. 490,888

1 Claim. (01. 128-127) This invention relates to an inflatable pessary organs adjacent thereto and which will permit the passing of fluid when necessary.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention,

reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a view showing certain female organs with the present invention in position and supporting the uterus.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View illustrating the inflatable element of the present invention. Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view, showing a supporting element which is received. by the lips of the vagina for the support of the inflatable element against accidental displacement.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates an inflatable elastic supporting element consisting of a leak-proof bag or sack of substantially pear shape when inflated and has the walls of the largest end thickened and provided with an external recess to'partly receive the uterus and form a seat 6 for the neck of the uterus. Said end of the bag or sack has an internal seat or socket 8 in which one end of a rigid tube 9 is secured. The tube extends externally of the bag or sack at the other end thereof and has said end of the bag or sack formed thereon. A portion of the tube 9 lying in the bag or sack is provided with perforations IE] and has mounted in the free end thereof an inflating valve H of a conventional construction for the inflation and deflation of the bag or sack. The free end of the tube is externally screw threaded to permit the application of an inflating bulb or some other air compressing means to be attached to the tube,

as well as a retaining member l2 after the application of the supporting element and the inflation thereof in the vagina.

The retaining member l2 includes a threaded neck l3 to .permit it to be threaded on or ofi 'of the tube 9. The retaining member l2 in plan view is substantially teardrop shape and tapers toward the edges thereof to be received within the lips Hi of the vagina l5, the lips l4 partly overlying the retaining member as shown in Figure 3 to prevent its displacement. The retaining member has a plurality of openings extending therethrough to permit the escape of fluids while in wearing position.

To install the pessary, the bag or sack in a deflated condition is inserted in the vagina to bring the neck of the uterus into the seat 6. The rigid tube 9 permits the insertion to be easily carried out. The free endof the tube protrudes a limited distance from the vagina when the neck of the uterus engages in the seat 6 so that the inflating deviceinot'shown) may be attachedto the tube. ciently to bring it against the walls of the vagina, care being taken not to unduly stretch the vagina as to place pressure on adjacent organs such as the bladder I6 and colon I1 as would tend to force said parts from their normal positions. After the proper adjustment of the elastic inflatable supporting element 5 in the va-,

I2 is connected to the tube and placed within the' lips Id of the Vagina IS. The element I2 is held against displacement by the lips l4 and being connected to the tube 9 the sack or bag will be prevented from slipping or changing its position within the vagina, thereby cushioningly supporting the uterus and relieve the latter of strain which may'lend discomfort or suffering to'the person.

v To remove the pessary it is only necessary to detach the retaining element l2 from the tube 9 and deflate the bag or sack by unseating the valve I I. The tube carrying the deflated bag or sack can then be withdrawn without discomfort to the person.

A device of the character described and shown in the drawing will be very efficient in the support of the uterus to relieve discomfort and may be easily and quickly installed andremoved, will be non-irritating to the wearer and may be constructed from materials best for the construction of the various parts thereof, the construction of The sack or .bag is then inflated suflithe device being such that it is extremely easy to clean and sterilize and may be manufactured and sold at a low cost.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

In a pessary, a rigid tube, an inflatable bag connected to said tube and having a seat to receive the neck of a uterus and inflatable to contact walls of a vagina under a selected pressure for the support of the uterus, an inflating valve in the tube, and a perforated retaining element of substantially tear-drop shape and tapering toward the edges thereof and detachably connected to the tube and adapted to be positioned within Having thus described the invention, what I 10 lips of the vagina.

claim is:

MARIE E. SCHIMPF. 

